Memorial Day - a few courtesy guidelines

Here's some courtesy guidelines for Memorial Day Weekend.
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial Day - there ain't nothing happy about brave men and women dying.
2. Its not a holiday or a sale, its a Day of Remembrance.
3. You want to know the true meaning, visit your local Cemetery or a VA Hospital, not Disneyland or the mall.
4. Don't tell me how great anyone in political power is; tell me about AWSCS Sean "Sully" Sullivan, AWS2 Joseph "Fitz" Fitzmorris, SOCS Kyle Milliken, or my classmate's brother, or I can tell you about Pearl Harbor which set off the American campaign for WWII.
5. Say a prayer, and then raise a glass and thank God for the men and women who are no longer here.
6. Do NOT "thank" a living Veteran for his/her service... they'll get honored on Veterans Day in November!!
This is time to remember that the true price of freedom is paid in the lives that defend it. Honor our brothers and sisters that have given the last full measure to secure our freedoms!!

For those who serve, life can be an endless summer, right up until it's over. There are plenty of National Cemeteries across the States. I encourage all Americans to take an hour or two out of your life and go to one. Find a recent addition, read the name, the dates, see how old that service member was when they gave all for the rights and privileges that many Americans take for granted. Reflect on the loved ones they left behind, the sorrow, the tears shed by the family and friends. Take that person's name home with you and pray for them and their family at your dinner table. Raise a glass in their name.
That is Memorializing these men & women with pride and honor on their Memorial Day.

Cheers,
Steve

Good post Steve.

The Memorial Day sales and carnival barking really irks me. Capitalism is fine by me; but don't denigrate this particular day of solemn remembrance... with a sale. :banghead:

If I may add to that:

I never thank a veteran for their service on Veteran's Day, I thank a waiter for their service, I thank a veteran for their sacrifice as they signed that contract with their own blood and could have gotten the call to shed it at any time, which many did, bravely. Which leads me to my next brain dropping:

That saying that makes me want to vomit "All gave some some gave all" I don't think ANY soldier or sailor goes into battle saying "You know I think I'm only going to give some of myself today." What they do is conjure up every single fiber of their being and execute to the fullest extent their absolute best. So if I may rip that bumper sticker bullshit off the face of the earth and revise it:

"All gave all some gave the ultimate"

And now a poem we will be reading at my little chapel at our very humble but very solemn Memorial Day service:

These did not pass in selfishness;
they died for all mankind;
They died to build a better world
for all who stay behind;
And we who hold their memory dear,
and bring them flowers today,
Should consecrate ourselves once more
to live and die as they.

They were defenders of the faith
and guardians of the truth;
That you and I might live and love,
they gladly gave their youth;
And we who set this day apart
to honor them who sleep
Should pledge ourselves to hold the faith
they gave their lives to keep.

If tears are all we shed for them,
then they have died in vain;
If flowers are all we bring them,
forgotten they remain;
If by their courage we ourselves
to courage are not led,
Then needlessly these graves have closed
above our heroes dead.

To symbolize our love with flowers
is not enough to do;
We must be brave as they were brave,
and true as they were true.
They died to build a better world,
and we who mourn today
Should consecrate ourselves once more
to live and die as they.

Ever since the I can remember there was that blue,white, kaki uniform hanging in my father's room.
I knew from old pictures and his missing my high school graduation when he had served.
It was not until I sat next to him in Bethesda Naval hospital what the man I called Dad had been through.
I was lucky enough to hear about all the islands in WW2 the heat and cold in Korea, and what he called
the damned frustration in Vietnam.
Guess he just wanted me to know why he gave me the advice he did and why I would hear him yelling
I AM COMING , I am coming in his sleep.
He let me know that the Marines did not have medics like the Army, they use Navy Corps man for
for their medical person in each squad.
That is what he did through what he and I both call three wars.
He said Anytime they are shooting at you ,it,s a war

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shortleg0521

Ever since the I can remember there was that blue,white, kaki uniform hanging in my father's room.
I knew from old pictures and his missing my high school graduation when he had served.
It was not until I sat next to him in Bethesda Naval hospital what the man I called Dad had been through.
I was lucky enough to hear about all the islands in WW2 the heat and cold in Korea, and what he called
the damned frustration in Vietnam.
Guess he just wanted me to know why he gave me the advice he did and why I would hear him yelling
I AM COMING , I am coming in his sleep.
He let me know that the Marines did not have medics like the Army, they use Navy Corps man for
for their medical person in each squad.
That is what he did through what he and I both call three wars.
He said Anytime they are shooting at you, it's a war

---

Navy corpsmen who served with Marines are absolutely the most amazing people on the planet.
I've had the privilege of knowing several - and all are testaments to their oath & prayer.
But the job they do for the Marines is best reflected in the poem at the end.

Shortleg - your dad IS a hero.
Remembering him this weekend as I'm sure others are who may not recall his name, but remember him as "doc."

Cheers,
Steve


The Corpsman's Oath

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE MYSELF BEFORE GOD
AND THESE WITNESSES
TO PRACTICE FAITHFULLY
ALL OF MY DUTIES AS A MEMBER OF
THE HOSPITAL CORPS.
I HOLD THE CARE OF THE SICK AND INJURED TO BE A
SACRED TRUST
AND WILL ASSIST THE MEDICAL OFFICER
WITH LOYALTY AND HONESTY.
I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY PERMIT HARM TO COME TO
ANY PATIENT.
I WILL NOT PARTAKE OF NOR ADMINISTER
ANY UNAUTHORIZED MEDICATION.
I WILL HOLD
ALL PERSONAL MATTERS
PERTAINING TO THE PRIVATE LIVES OF
PATIENTS IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.
I DEDICATE MY
HEART, MIND, AND STRENGTH
TO THE WORK BEFORE ME.
I SHALL DO ALL WITHIN MY POWER
TO SHOW IN MYSELF AN
EXAMPLE OF ALL THAT IS
HONORABLE AND GOOD
THROUGHOUT
MY NAVAL CAREER.

A Corpsman's Prayer

Grant me, oh Lord, for the coming events;
Enough knowledge to cope and some plain common sense.
Be at our side on those nightly patrols;
And be merciful judging our vulnerable souls.
Make my hands steady and as sure as a rock;
when the others go down with a wound or in shock.
Let me be close, when they bleed in the mud;
With a tourniquet handy to save precious blood.
Here in the jungle, the enemy near;
Even the corpsman can't offer much lightness and cheer.
Just help me, oh Lord, to save lives when I can;
Because even out there is merit in man.
If It's Your will, make casualties light;
And don't let any die in the murderous night.
These are my friends I'm trying to save;
They are frightened at times, but You know they are brave.
Let me not fail when they need so much;
But to help me serve with a compassionate touch.
Lord, I'm no hero -- my job is to heal;
And I want You to know Just how helpless I feel.
Bring us back safely to camp with dawn;
For too many of us are already gone.
Lord bless my friends If that's part of your plan;
And go with us tonight, when we go out again.

Marine Corps Green

From the halls of Montezuma –-
First words of a famous song.
When Marines go into battle,
A Navy corpsman goes along.

From its very beginning
The Corps has steadily grown,
And the attitude of Marines is,
"We take care of our own."

Marines may give up their water
Or even their last bean,
But never their Navy corpsman
Wearing Marine Corps green.

When Marines and their corpsman
Are standing side by side,
The first thing you notice
Is the sharing of their pride.

If you are looking for trouble
Of a kind you’ve never seen,
Attack their Navy corpsman,
The one in Marine Corps green.

A quick snippet from a friend of mine this morning has been echoing in my little pea brain:

"Too many Gold Star families for this to be a fun day."

nicely written